System and method for simulating a game of football

ABSTRACT

A game simulating professional, American style football is disclosed. The game combines physical skill, strategy, and chance. A standard dartboard is used to generate, by physical skill and chance, points that determine kickoff performance, yardage gained, turnover success, punt performance, safety outcome, extra points, and onside kick success. Strategy is used to apply the points. Any standard dartboard and darts may be used. Progress of the game is displayed by placement of indicia on a game board. The running score is written in, or displayed by indicia placed in, the appropriate field of the game board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/504,542 filed Sep. 19, 2003 entitled “Dartboard, a football simulation game” filed in the name of Eric Pavlik and Ron Alexander. The priority of this application is hereby claimed and it is hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for simulating professional football. More in particular, the invention relates to board games wherein professional football is simulated.

2. Description of the Related Art

Attempts at simulating football can be traced back to the 19th Century. U.S. Pat. No. 563,767 depicts a board game having a gridiron representation and a spinner.

One of the remarkable aspects of football history is the number of changes that have ensued over the years. This is true not only in the actual live performance of American football, but also in the various versions of football simulations. Football is a game that involves, to varying degrees, the elements of strategy, physical skill, and chance. Likewise, typical simulations, have tended to emphasize one or sometimes two of these elements. The element of chance is generally simulated with a spinner, dice, or a deck of cards. Often a combination of spinner and dice, or dice and cards, or spinner and cards is used to generate the random element. Strategy is usually incorporated into the rules of play, though some games rely entirely on chance.

As far back as the 19^(th) century, as noted above, U.S. Pat. No. 593,512 disclosed a gridiron representation as well as a spinner indicating the amount of yardage gained. This game also employs toy players propelling toy balls on a toy field. However, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 795,822 discloses a gridiron in combination with several spinners. Players are moveable upon a board wherein the players are connected by links or bonds. This game is similar in some respects to football, but is not intended to simulate football closely. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 817,191 discloses a rugby card game. There are 66 playing cards, which are divided into 11 suits of 6. Each card contains 5 plays; kick-off, punt, goal after touchdown, goal from field and rushing. This is not an American football game, but is interesting as an attempt to play a sport with specialized cards. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,273,675 discolses a gridiron representation as well as a spinner. The play results are determined in a completely random fashion. Skill is not a factor, moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,467,912 discloses a gridiron representation as well as a very complicated spinner. Team players are left with no discretion as to which plays are chosen or the results. Strategy and physical skill are not elements of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,838,398 discloses a football game apparatus having a gridiron representation as well as 7 spinners attached thereto. In this game a player is allowed to choose his offense play, announce it and then spin for the result. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,992,475 discloses a football game in combination with cards. The cards in this game pertain to a particular play and then have the face of the card divided into zones corresponding to the zones on the field. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,049,284 discloses a football game containing a gridiron representation having an elaborate dice and tumbler. There is a chart of plays, which is used with this game. The chart gives 88 variations of play through each of seven line positions or 616 variations of line plays on a simple chart of 11 chances. In this game an offensive member names his play, rolls the dice and consults the chart for yardage. The defense player then rolls dice to obtain yardage, which is then subtracted from the offensive yardage and a new line of scrimmage is established. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,361 discloses a football board game using play-selecting cards. There are offensive cards as well as defensive cards each of which is separate and apart from the other. In this game the defensive player first chooses his defensive card. The offense then chooses her card and discloses her choice. The defense player aligns his card containing graphic representations with the gridiron and locates the play result on the card. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,403 discloses a football board game having result charts. Cards are used with this game, but they are regular poker-type cards. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,863 discloses a football board game having a gridiron representation having associated, complicated moveable parts located thereon. This patent exemplifies the more complicated extreme of football board games. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,580 discloses a football board game having a gridiron representation. In this game, the defense tries to guess what the offense is doing. Playing cards are used in this game and play results are determined by a set of cards called “down” cards. The offensive player chooses one of two plays and the defense responds by guessing which of the two plays the offense chose. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,509 discloses a football board game having a gridiron representation and a play result chart. Dice are used extensively as well as offensive play cards. In this game, with the exception of kickoff, the offensive player must announce his play in advance to rolling dice. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,346 discloses a football board game having playing cards and dice. There is little room in this game for offensive strategies and defensive guessing. Dice are used in unique ways to announce plays and results. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,834 discloses a football board game, which is pocket size and uses offense and defense cards. The offense and defense cards are different from each other. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,836 discloses a football board game played from the perspective players. It has a gridiron representation, playing cards representing offensive plays, and a spinning pointer for generating a random number. There are complex rules incorporating probability charts. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,301 discloses a game board on which is depicted a standard football playing field, two sets of cards, and dice to generate random numbers. A very complex set of rules determines the progress of the game. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,036 discloses a football card board game with two football fields that on a dry erase board surface. The game includes a pair of dice, a standard die, and a yard quantity die, a pack of fifty-four shuffle-able cards with a sport card front and star sheets.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,441 discloses a board game including a board having one hundred individual positions corresponding to the yard lines and several varieties of cards. The offensive player selects a play from the menu of available offensive plays. The defensive player draws a card that determines the result. Available plays include simulated yardage gains and losses, scores, possession transitions plays of the actual game. Physical skill is not an element of this game. Moreover, no dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

While none of these games involve any physical skill or any kind of dart board, a number of football board games incorporate darts as an element of both chance and physical skill. Unfortunately, all of these games use a special dartboard particular to the game rather than the standard dartboard. All of these games require a dartboard that has a target area, which is specially laid out for the particular game. The dartboards are typically divided into fields representing plays, yardage, or position. Skill is required to get a dart into a desired field. Some level of chance also comes into play. These games that combine darts with football go back to at least 1940.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,227,382 discloses a dartboard with the target laid out in the shape of a football field. The football field is divided into zones the width of the field, representing five yard intervals. darts are thrown to move progressively from zone one to the next until reaching the end-zone. Moves are regulated by a set of rules to simulate various aspects and strategies of the game of football. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,117 discloses a dartboard target layout divided into three circular targets. Each target is further divided into distinctively colored dart target areas representing the result of from selective offense plays such as running, pass, and kick plays. Only the offense gets to throw. Players take turns depending on the progress of the throws. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,325 discloses a dartboard layout where the target areas are divided into a group of offensive target pieces to be used by offensive team, and a group of defensive target pieces to be used by defensive team. The offensive team tries to land a dart on the offensive target pieces, representing offensive moves. The defensive team tries to land a dart on the defensive target pieces representing defensive countermeasures against the offensive moves. Game rules determine the outcome of the play based on the sequence of targets hit. The target pieces vary in size reflecting relative difficulty of each play option. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,842 discloses an electronic circuit, dartboard. The target area is circular and is divided into a number of rectangular, circular, annular, and oval regions that overlap each other. The object is to pierce the center area of the board, and a donut shaped area, directly surrounding the centermost area, additionally there are four other circular, instant point areas. Each, individual player throws at least eight or more darts at a time. Scoring is done automatically by the electronic circuitry activated by the darts. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,782 discloses a dartboard with many target regions. Each region is subdivided into yet, more smaller areas. Each area has some action, either defensive or offensive associated with it. The targets are sized and placed to correlate and simulate the skill required to achieve a desired result reflecting the probability of such a result in actual football. The game can be played by individuals or teams. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,518 discloses an arcade style game played by throwing darts (or other projectiles) at the playing surface or target area. The target area includes field markings that depict a sports field in perspective view. The target area also includes target markings that define offensive targets and defensive targets. The defensive targets resemble silhouettes of players involved in various action modes of a game. The electronics senses the darts and an active counter awards score values according to factors such as time elapsed between when an offensive target is hit and a defensive target is hit. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,898 discloses an electronic scoring dart target, which provides a “soccer” competition, an “American football” competition, as well as other “sport” competitions. The dart target layout includes a target consisting of a complex set of tessellations. The target areas are divided into a frustration region, an offense/defense interaction region, and an offensive gain region. The electronic scoring dart target further includes a display panel below the target area. The display panel has two sets of score displays and function keys, as well as a clocking display and a pilot lamp indicating attack. The target areas can be configured as “soccer”, “American football”, “basketball” or some other “sports” competition ground. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,154 describes a dartboard for playing American football with a target area laid out in the shape of a quadrilateral simulated football field section; a quadrilateral downs section; a quadrilateral punts section; and a quadrilateral kicks section. Opposing players or teams accumulate scores by hitting the appropriate areas with their darts, in sequence, in order to reach a winning score within an agreed upon time period. No standard dartboard is used or disclosed in this game.

There are several design patents that also describe dartboard target layouts for playing simulated games football. These include U.S. design Pat. Nos. D285,942; D291,098; D293,455; D444,505; and D252,412.

As noted above, all of the boards cited above, including those described by design patents, use targets laid out in specially designed patterns. None of the above boards use a standard dartboard layout, as shown in FIG. 1. There is only one patent that does describe a standard dartboard layout used in a simulated game of football.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,822 describes an electronic throwing dart football game consisting of a combination of darts, a board laid out in the pattern of a standard dartboard, and electronics to sense the darts and score the game. However, the board is not a standard dartboard in the sense of a target for standard darts. The darts are weights. The board is made up of pie sections laid out in the format of a standard dartboard. The pie sections are actually solid plates, which act as switches. When the darts or weights hit the pie section plates, the plates are deflected and a contact is made. The signal produced by the contact enables the dartboard to automatically transmit the appropriate score by electric circuit routers to a scoreboard. The position of the football is then updated on the football field by yard indicating lamps. A standard dartboard and darts could not be used to play this game. Unfortunately, this game requires use of a special electronic device, not the standard dartboard found ubiquitously in homes, bars, pubs, game rooms, clubs, USO's and other recreational places.

There is also a game of darts called “football” described in some rulebooks. In this game, the standard dartboard serves as a simulation for a football field. The standard dartboard is divided up by the rules to simulate regions of a football field. Points associated with the standard dartboard layout are not used to determine yardage or progress across the field, only physical position. The players try to move the “football” across the field by progressively hitting various regions defined on the board. Unfortunately, while this game does involve a standard dartboard and darts, the simulation of actual football is more suggested by the name than found in actual play. There is little strategy or actual football action in the game.

The origin of darts can be traced back to the fifteenth century battlefields of France. It is believed that archers practiced with broken arrow heads throwing them at targets of wood either in the form of barrel bottoms or logs from trees. The game as it exists today began to emerge in the 19th century. Brian Gamlin is credited with “inventing” the numbering sequence of the modern standard dartboard in 1896. Two years later, the first U.S. Patent concerning the game of darts was an improvement to a dart. This patent was issued as U.S. Pat. No. 613,386 on 1 Nov. 1898, to Nathan P. McKenney, for a paper flight. In 1935 the Nodor dartboard company was the first to manufacture the now ‘standard’ London dartboard seen throughout the world.

The game of darts has become a very popular sport that supports an industry of manufacturers and retailers in England, and the U.S. as well as other countries. Countless children both large and small have received dartboards for Christmas or birthdays, Today, darts and standard dartboards are a fixture in pubs throughout England, the U.S., and around the world. The standard dartboard can be found in countless homes, bars, pubs, game rooms, clubs, USO's and other recreational places. Standard dartboards and darts are available in most toy, game, and sporting goods stores.

American football and the standard dartboard layout both originated about the same time and have been around since the end of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, none of the football simulations or dart games that have developed, combine the standard dartboard with a realistic simulation of American football, that requires using roughly equal amounts of skill, chance, and strategy.

Therefore, what is needed is a board game that takes advantage of the ubiquitous distribution of standard dartboards and darts to simulate American football and that can be played with standard dartboards, using standard darts, wherever they may be found. What is needed is a game that combines the skill of throwing darts, with the chance of hitting the desired points, along with offensive and defensive strategies and complexities that go into applying those points to playing a simulated game of American football, as well as a game board to aid in keeping track of play and scoring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for playing a system for playing a simulated game of football. The system includes a standard dartboard, one or more darts, a set of game rules, and a game board. The game board includes a playing field adapted to receive a position indicia; a timeout field adapted to receive one or more timeouts indicia indicating timeouts; a score field adapted to receive one or more game score indicia representing a game score for two teams; and a quarter field adapted to receive one or more quarter indicia indicating a quarter and a number of possessions. At least one numeric value is generated from an operation of the one or more darts and standard dartboard by a user thereof according to the set of rules. The position indicia is advanced by a user thereof in response to the at least one numeric value according to the set of game rules. The one or more timeouts indicia are selectively advanced by a user thereof according to the set of game rules. The number of possessions is determined and the quarter indicia is advanced by a user thereof according to the set of game rules, and game scores obtained for players or groups of players simulate a gameplay of the game of football according to the set of game rules.

An embodiment of the present invention an apparatus for playing a system for playing a simulated game of football. The system includes a standard dartboard, one or more darts, and a game board. The game board includes a playing field adapted to receive a position indicia according to disposition of the one or more darts operated relative the standard dartboard. The game board further includes a timeout field adapted to receive one or more timeouts indicia indicating timeouts according to a set of game rules. The game board further includes a score field adapted to receive one or more game score indicia representing a game score for two teams according to the set of game rules, and a quarter field adapted to receive one or more quarter indicia indicating a quarter and a number of possessions according to the set of game rules.

An embodiment of the present invention is a method of playing a simulated football game with a standard dartboard, one or more darts, and a game board. The method includes representing a football field on the game board, and alternating turns between two players. The method further includes throwing the one or more darts at the standard dartboard in a predetermined sequence, and assigning a point value determined from a disposition of the one or more darts thrown at the standard dartboard. The method further includes determining a number of yards to move a football indicia according the assigned point value, moving the football indicia on the football field represented on the game board the number of yards determined according to the point value, and allocating points scored to the two players based on progress of the football indicia on the game board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the present invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic depiction of a layout of a standard dartboard in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic depiction of a layout of a game board for a board game in accordance with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of the layout of the game board of FIG. 2, illustrating indicia disposed thereupon, in accordance with aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Moreover, football terminology has been used where such terminology may provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. For one skilled in the art of football, such terminology will contribute to clarity and ease of understanding.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic depiction of a layout of a standard dartboard 30 in accordance with aspects of the invention. Standard dartboard 30 may be constructed of a wide variety materials, for example cork, wood, plastic, paper, metal, Velcro. Darts (not illustrated) are well known in the industry. Such darts are generally constructed of materials adapted to adhere or stick to standard dartboards upon impact with standard dartboard 30. Such materials may include wood, metal, plastic, feathers, Velcro, ceramic, magnetic materials, rubber, for example. Darts may adhere to dartboard 30 by penetrating dartboard 30 with a point, by tangling with dartboard 30 material with a hook and latch means such as felt or Velcro, by magnetic interaction, by vacuum, for example. The shape of darts may vary from spherical to elongated projectiles. While the type, shape, and configuration of darts is too varied to illustrate a typical dart, standard dartboard 30 is well defined.

Standard dartboard 30 is divided into twenty different pie sections 31, an outer bull 37, an inner bull 38, and a number field 41. Standard dartboard 30 further includes an outer ring or double ring 34, and an inner ring or triple ring 36. Inner bull 38, outer bull 37, triple ring 36, double ring 34, and number field 41 are arranged concentrically proceeding from the center of dartboard 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Number field 41 concentrically external to double ring 34 and is inscribed with twenty, point value numerals 32. A numeral 32 is adjacent to each of pie sections 31. A point value associated with a pie section 31 is represented by numeral 32 closest to such pie section 31. For example, a pie section 31 will have a point value of fourteen. Throwing a dart that sticks in such pie section 31 adjacent numeral 32, labeled “14”, may also be referred to as throwing a fourteen. A dart sticking in an area of inner bull 38 has a point value of fifty points. A dart sticking in an area of outer bull 37 has a point value of twenty-five points. Double ring 34 and triple ring 36 delineate regions of a two and three times multiplier factor respectively. Triple ring 36 defines a region that is multiplied by three times. For example, a pie section 31 adjacent to a numeral 32, labeled “14”, has a nominal point value of fourteen points when a dart sticks anywhere within such pie section 31. However, if such dart sticks in an intersection of triple ring 36 with such pie section 31 adjacent to such numeral 32 labeled “14”, such dart scores a point value of three times fourteen, equal to forty-two. Throwing a dart that sticks in such manner may also be referred to as throwing a triple fourteen, or simply throwing a forty-two.

Double ring 34 defines a region that is multiplied by two times. For example, a pie section 31 adjacent to a numeral 32, labeled “6”, has a nominal point value of six points when a dart sticks anywhere within such pie section 31. However, if such dart sticks in an intersection of double ring 34 with such pie section 31 adjacent to such numeral 32 labeled “6”, such dart scores a point value of two times six, equal to twelve. Throwing a dart that sticks in such manner may also be referred to as throwing a double six, or simply throwing a twelve. A dart sticking exterior to double ring 34, for example in number field 41, scores zero points. The point values associated with regions of dartboard 30, as described above are conventional associations. Other point values may be assigned or associated with regions of dartboard 30 based on mutually accepted conventions and definitions.

As described in a set of rules below, point values may represent yards gained in a game, a success in making a conversion, a success in making a safety, or a success in making a turnover, depending on a phase of play as the game progresses.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic depiction of a layout of a game board 51 for a board game in accordance with aspects of the invention. FIG. 3 is a depiction of the layout of game board 51 of FIG. 2, illustrating indicia disposed thereupon, in accordance with aspects of the invention. Game board 51 is divided into a plurality of fields. Game board 51 includes a football field 52, a timeouts field 54, a score field 56, and a quarter field 58. Dartball further includes a set of indicia, including a football indicia 64, one or more timeouts indicia 66, and one or more quarter indicia 65.

Referring to FIG. 2, a board game embodiment is readily apparent. Football field 52 is configured in a gridiron representation simulating a professional football field. Football field 52 may be divided into two touchdown zones (or end zones) 67, a playing field 68. Playing field 68 may be labeled by one or more yardage markers 69, yard one or more yard indicators 60, and one or more hash marks 70. Yardage markers 69 may be arranged at five-yard intervals, and hash marks 70 at one-yard intervals, for example. Yard indicators 60 may arrayed along a top edge of football field 52, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, yard indicators 60 may be arrayed along a bottom edge, or both top and bottom edges of football field 52. Yard indicators 60 may indicate yards at, for example, five-yard intervals. Playing field 68 may include one or more yard apertures 61. FIG. 2 illustrates playing field 68 having a yard aperture 61 for each yard, including forty-nine apertures 61 for visitors yard lines one through forty-nine, forty-nine yard apertures 61 for home yard lines one through forty-nine, and one aperture for the fifty-yard line. Playing field 68 further illustrated as including two touchdown apertures 62. Goal lines are not illustrated as have apertures 61. Touchdown apertures 62 are disposed in touchdown zones 67. Yard apertures 61 and touchdown apertures 62 are adapted to receive a football indicia 64.

Referring to FIG. 3, football indicia 64, or ball 64, may be configured to represent a football. Placement of football indicia in an aperture 61 represents a current yard line position for ball 64 as a simulated football game progresses. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates football indicia 64 disposed in a yard aperture 61 at a fifteen yard line, to indicate that play has progressed to place ball 64 at the fifteen yard line. Placement of football indicia 64 in touchdown apertures 62 would represent a touchdown position, as the game progresses.

Timeouts field 54 may include a set of timeouts apertures 53, FIG. 2 illustrates three timeouts apertures 53 for a home team and three timeouts apertures 53 for a visitors team. Timeouts apertures 53 may be adapted for receiving timeouts indicia 66. Placement of timeouts indicia 66 may indicate a number of timeouts used by each team as the game progresses. Alternately, placement of timeouts indicia 66 may indicate a number of timeouts remaining to each team as simulated football game progresses. For example, FIG. 3 may illustrate timeouts indicia 66 disposed to indicate that home team has used three timeouts and visitors team has used two timeouts. Alternately, FIG. 3 may illustrate timeouts indicia 66 disposed to indicate that home team has three timeouts remaining and visitors team has two timeouts remaining.

Quarter field 58, may include one or more possession apertures 59. FIG. 2 illustrates a total of sixteen possession apertures 59, disposed in four sets of four, for example. Each set of four possession apertures 59 may represent one quarter. Each aperture 59 may represent one possession. Quarter indicia 65 may be placed in a possession aperture 59 representing a current quarter and possession as simulated football game progresses. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates quarter indicia 65 disposed to indicate that play has progressed to a fourth possession in a first quarter.

Football indicia 64, quarter indicia 65, and timeouts indicia 66 may include pegs, pins, tacks, nails, or other indicia adapted to insert into apertures 31,59,53 respectively. Apertures 31,59,53 are not necessary for football indicia 64, quarter indicia 65, and timeouts indicia 66. It is only important that the indicia 64,65,66 are adapted to be affixed to the playing Game board 51 in some manner. Other methods of affixing indicia 64,65,66 to Game board 51 may include magnets, Velcro, or simply marking the board with an erasable or electronic marker, for example.

Score field 56 includes a home field 55 and a visitors field 57. Score field 56 may be written in by some form a marker adapted to be erasable, such as dry ink, pencil, or chalk, for example. As simulated football game progresses, a current score for the visitor team and the home team may be updated in visitors field 57 and home field 55 respectively. Alternatively, removable, numeric indicia adapted to adhere removably to score field 56, such as magnetic numerals, Velcro attachable numerals, scoring cards, or electronic numerals may be disposed to advantage in score field 56, in home field 55 and visitors field 57, to indicate a current score. FIG. 3 illustrates score field 56 indicating a score of seven to nine, or seven in home field 55 and nine in visitors field 57.

Reference will be made to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in explaining the invention. For clarity, and to aid understanding of exemplary rules, football indicia 64 may also be referred to as position indicia 64 or simply ball 64. Likewise, touchdown zone 67 may also be referred to as end zone 67. Notwithstanding, the following description having references to board game illustrations, the invention contains principles generic to any such embodiment and the best modes for carrying out the invention are manifold.

The invention provides the player with an opportunity to be a Quarterback, a Defensive Signal Caller, and a Head Coach of her own team, facing similar situations and decisions to those that are faced in a typical professional football game. Strategy in making correct decisions, and calling correct plays will contribute to winning games.

A set of exemplary set of game rules is set forth as follows to illustrate one operational embodiment. However, it may be appreciated that the following set of game rules may be varied in details without departing from the scope of the invention.

A game may be played by two teams. An object of the game is for each team to accumulate points by, for example, moving football indicia 64 into an opponent's end zone 67. Darts and a standard dartboard 30 are used to determine how far to move ball 64 and the outcome of strategic maneuvers.

Duration of the Game

1. The game is played for four quarters.

2. Two quarters make up a half.

3. Two half's make up a game.

4. Four possessions make up a quarter. One possession is complete when each team has had possession of ball 64 once. Each team is entitled to possession of ball 64, or a possession, four times per quarter or eight times per half, for a total of sixteen possessions. Each possession may be four downs.

5. At an end of four quarters (the second half) the game is over and a team with the most points wins.

FIG. 3 illustrates quarter indicia 65 disposed to indicate that play has progressed to a fourth possession of the first quarter, for example. Three quarters remain in the game.

Starting the Game

6. Before starting play, a coin may be tossed to determine which team will control ball 64 first. A winner of the coin toss elects to either kickoff or receive ball 64.

7. A team that receives to start the first half must kickoff to start the second half.

Determination of Yards to Move

8. A point value scored by a thrown dart on standard dartboard 30 determines a number of yards ball 64 may be moved. One point equals one yard. For example, a dart that sticks in pie section 31 adjacent a numeral 32 having a value of “twenty”, (or a twenty field) equals twenty yards. Another way of saying this is that a player has thrown twenty yards. A dart in a seven field equals seven yards, or a player has thrown a dart for seven yards. Another way of describing this is, a player has thrown a seven.

9. Darts that stick in outer ring, or double ring 34 count double. For example: a dart in double ring 34 where it intersects pie section 31 adjacent a numeral 32 having a value of “eight”, (or an eight field) equals sixteen yards. This would also be referred to as a “double eight”. Such case may be described as, a player has thrown a dart for sixteen yards. Such case may also be described as, a player has thrown a sixteen. Such descriptions of the result of a dart throw may be used interchangeably throughout description of the game.

10. Darts that stick in inner ring, or triple ring 36 count triple. For example: a dart in triple ring 36 where it intersects pie section 31 adjacent a numeral 32 having a value of “twelve”, (or a twelve field) equals thirty-six yards. This would also be referred to as a “triple twelve”. In such case, a player is said to have thrown a thirty-six, or thrown for thirty-six yards, for example. Such descriptions of the result of a dart throw may be used interchangeably throughout description of the game.

11. Darts that stick in outer bull 37 count as twenty-five yards.

12. Darts that stick in inner bull 38 count as fifty yards.

For example, FIG. 3 illustrates football indicia 64 disposed to indicate that play has progressed to move football indicia 64 to a fifteen yard line.

Kickoff

13. A team kicking off, is a kicking team, or offense. Kicking team starts with ball 64 in aperture 61 at the kicking team's thirty-five yard line, or otherwise described as at the thirty-five yard line.

14. Kicking team may throw up to three darts to move ball 64 as close to the receiving team's end zone 67 as possible. For example, if kicking team throws a three, a twenty, and a double five for a total of thirty-three yards, then ball 64 would be moved thirty-three yards from kicking team's thirty-five yard line (where the ball started), to kicking team's sixty-eight yard line, or receiving team's thirty-two yard line.

15. Kicking team may elect to throw fewer than three darts.

16. A kickoff does not count as a possession.

17. A team receiving the kickoff is a receiving team or defense. Receiving team then takes possession of ball 64 at a point where kicking team moved ball 64 to with the kickoff. In the above example receiving team takes possession of ball 64 at its own thirty-two yard line. A team with possession of ball 64 is offense. Upon taking possession of ball 64, receiving team becomes offense.

18. If kicking team throws for a total number of yards equal to or greater than sixty-five yards then a touchback is scored against receiving team. For example, if kicking team throws an eighteen, eleven, and triple fifteen for a total of seventy-four yards then kicking team has scored a touchback.

19. If there is a touchback, and if kicking team elects not to attempt a safety as described below, then receiving team takes possession of ball 64 at its own twenty-yard line.

Moving the Ball

20. Each thrown dart is one down. Each possession is four downs or four thrown darts.

21. After receiving team receives a kickoff and becomes offense, offense has one possession, or four downs to throw at least enough yards to move ball 64 into the opponent's end zone 67.

22. If offense throws at least enough yards to move ball 64 into end zone 67 then offense scores a touchdown. Offense receives six points and may attempt a conversion.

23. A team without possession of ball 64 is defense. If defense has possessions left in a half, then offense kicks off to defense.

24. If offense does not throw at least enough yards to move ball 64 into end zone 67 in three downs, offense must choose between three options for a last down or fourth dart: a) DRIVE FOR A TOUCHDOWN; b) ATTEMPT TO KICK A FIELD GOAL; c) PUNT.

a) Drive for a Touchdown

25. If offense elects to drive for a touchdown then the fourth dart must result in at least enough yards to move ball 64 into end zone 67.

26. If the fourth dart results in at least enough yards to move ball 64 into end zone 67, then offense scores a touchdown for six points and may attempt a conversion. For example, if offense reaches the seven yard line with the first three darts and offense then throws a twelve on the fourth down, offense has scored a touch down. Offense may attempt a conversion.

27. If defense has possessions left in the half, then offense kicks off to defense.

28. If the fourth dart does not result in at least enough yards to move ball 64 into end zone 67, then ball 64 is spotted where it was on third down. If defense has possessions left in the half then defense takes possession ball 64 and becomes offense. In the above example, if offense only threw for three yards on the fourth down, then ball 64 would be spotted at the seven yard line.

b) Kick a Field Goal

29. If the offense elects to kick a field goal then offense may throw two darts to attempt to accumulate at least enough yards to move ball 64 a remaining number of yards into end zone 67.

30. If two darts result in enough yards to add up to at least the remaining yards to end zone 67 then offense scores a field goal. Offense receives three points. For example, if offense reaches the eleven yard line with the first three darts and offense then throws a six and a nine, offense has scored a field goal.

31. If defense has possessions left in the half, then offense kicks off to defense.

32. If the two darts do not add up to at least the remaining yards to move ball 64 to end zone 67 then ball 64 is spotted where it was on third down. Defense takes possession of ball 64, if defense has possessions left in the half, and becomes offense. In the above example if offense threw a four and a three, then ball 64 would be spotted on the eleven yard line.

c) Punt

33. If the offense elects to punt then up to three darts may be used to move ball 64 as close to defense end zone 67 as possible. Defense takes possession of ball 64 at such position and becomes offense.

34. Not all three darts must be used.

35. If ball 64 is moved into end zone 67 with a punt, a touchback is scored. If there is a touchback, defense takes possession of ball 64 at its twenty-yard line, unless offense elects to attempt a safety (as described below).

Extra Points

36. If the offense scores a touchdown, then offense must elect to attempt either a one point conversion or a two point conversion.

37. A one-point conversion is attempted by throwing two darts to add up to a total of at least twenty yards.

38. A two-point conversion is attempted by throwing one dart for at least twenty yards.

39. A one-point conversion may not be attempted after electing and attempting a two-point conversion.

40. After the conversion attempt, offense kicks off to defense, if the defense has possessions left in the half.

Attempting a Safety

41. A safety may be attempted after a punt or kickoff goes into end zone 67 or upon touchback.

42. Offense must have at least one timeout left or safety may not be attempted.

43. Offense must hit inner bull 38 or outer bull 37 with one dart for safety attempt to succeed.

44. If either inner bull 38 or outer bull 37 is hit with one dart, offense gets two points and defense must kick off from their own twenty-yard line; no timeout is used.

45. If both inner bull 38 and outer bull 37 are missed with such one dart, offense looses one timeout, and defense takes possession of ball 64 on their own twenty-yard line, if defense has possessions left in the half.

Using Timeouts

46. Each team may elect to use up to three timeouts per half.

47. A time out is one extra dart. Such one extra dart may be used to extend a kickoff, extend a drive, attempt a field goal, extend a punt, score extra points, or attempt to force a turnover.

48. Timeouts may be used together, all at one time, or one at a time, except to attempt to force a turn over or to attempt an onside kick.

49. Only one timeout may be used per posession to attempt to force a turn over and to attempt an onside kick.

As timeouts are used, timeouts indicia 66 may be placed in an appropriate timeouts aperture 53. For example, FIG. 3 may illustrate timeouts indicia 66 disposed to indicate that home team has used three timeouts and visitors team has used two timeouts. Alternately, FIG. 3 may illustrate timeouts indicia 66 disposed to indicate that home team has three timeouts remaining and visitors team has two timeouts remaining.

Attempting Turnovers

50. Defense may choose to attempt a turnover at anytime, including during a drive, during a kickoff, or during a field goal attempt.

51. Defense must have at least one timeout left to attempt turnover.

52. Defense may only attempt one turnover during a possession.

53. Turnover may be initiated at any time. To initiate turnover, defense declares an intent to attempt a turnover.

54. Defense then throws one dart.

55. Turnover attempt is successful when defense hits inner bull 38 or outer bull 37 with one dart.

56. If turnover attempt is successful, defense takes possession of ball 64 where it was spotted on the field when defense declared intent to attempt such turnover. Defense does not lose any timeouts.

57. If turnover attempt fails, defense looses one time out and may not attempt any more turnovers during the possession in which turnover was attempted.

Attempting an Onside Kick

58. An onside kick may be attempted when kicking off after a touchdown.

59. A timeout is used to attempt an onside kick.

60. An onside kick attempt is successful when inner bull 38 or outer bull 37 is hit with one dart.

61. Only one dart may be used to attempt an onside kick, per kickoff.

62. If the onside kick attempt is successful, the kicking team gets ball 64 on its own forty-five yard line.

63. If the onside kick attempt is not successful, receiving team gets ball 64 at its own thirty-five yard line.

Scoring

64. A touchdown counts as six points.

65. A field goal counts as three points.

66. A safety counts as two points.

67. A two point conversion counts as two points.

68. A one point conversion counts as one point.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. 

1. A system for playing a simulated game of football, the system comprising: a standard dartboard; one or more darts; a set of game rules; a game board including: a playing field adapted to receive a position indicia; a timeout field adapted to receive one or more timeouts indicia indicating timeouts; a score field adapted to receive one or more game score indicia representing a game score for two teams; and a quarter field adapted to receive one or more quarter indicia indicating a quarter and a number of possessions; wherein at least one numeric value is generated from an operation of the one or more darts and standard dartboard by a user thereof according to the set of rules; wherein the position indicia is advanced by a user thereof in response to the at least one numeric value according to the set of game rules; wherein the one or more timeouts indicia are selectively advanced by a user thereof according to the set of game rules; wherein the number of possessions is determined and the quarter indicia is advanced by a user thereof according to the set of game rules; and wherein game scores obtained for players or groups of players simulate a gameplay of the game of football according to the set of game rules.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the playing field is configured to be recognizable as a simulated football field with the lines and yardage markers that typify the football field.
 3. The system claim 2, wherein the playing field includes two end zones, a plurality of yardage markers, two goal lines, and a plurality of hash marks.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the position indicia resembles a football.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the playing field includes apertures adapted to receive the position indicia.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the timeout field includes apertures adapted to receive the one or more timeouts indicia.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the quarter field includes apertures adapted to receive the quarter indicia.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the game score indicia include writing in the score field.
 9. A system for playing a simulated game of football, the system comprising: a standard dartboard; one or more darts; a game board including: a playing field adapted to receive a position indicia according to disposition of the one or more darts operated relative the standard dartboard; a timeout field adapted to receive one or more timeouts indicia indicating timeouts according to a set of game rules; a score field adapted to receive one or more game score indicia representing a game score for two teams according to the set of game rules; and a quarter field adapted to receive one or more quarter indicia indicating a quarter and a number of possessions according to the set of game rules.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein players or groups of players simulate a gameplay of the game of football according the set of game rules whereby the position indicia is advanced and game scores obtained through an interactive sequence of alternate team participation.
 11. A method of playing a simulated football game with a standard dartboard, one or more darts, and a game board, the method comprising: representing a football field on the game board; alternating turns between two players; throwing the one or more darts at the standard dartboard in a predetermined sequence; assigning a point value determined from a disposition of the one or more darts thrown at the standard dartboard; determining a number of yards to move a football indicia according the assigned point value; moving the football indicia on the football field represented on the game board the number of yards determined according to the point value; and allocating points scored to the two players based on progress of the football indicia on the game board.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining quarters and downs from the assigned point value and the predetermined sequence of the one or more darts thrown.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising representing the quarters and downs on the game board.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising using one or more timeouts according to the set of game rules.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising representing the number of timeouts used, on the game board.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a number of timeouts remaining according to the set of game rules and representing the number of timeouts remaining, on the game board.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising representing the points scored, as allocated to the two players, on the game board.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising declaring an attempted turnover according to the set of game rules and determining the outcome of the attempted turnover from the assigned point value and the predetermined sequence of the one or more darts thrown.
 19. The method of claim 11, further comprising declaring an attempted safety according to the set of game rules and determining the outcome of the attempted safety from the assigned point value and the predetermined sequence of the one or more darts thrown.
 20. The method of claim 11, further comprising declaring an attempted on side kick according to the set of game rules and determining the outcome of the attempted on side kick from the assigned point value and the predetermined sequence of the one or more darts thrown. 